Quantity; amount. Burke. [1913 Webster]
A definite portion of a manifoldness, limited by a mark or by a boundary. W. K. Clifford. [1913 Webster]

∥Quantum meruit ( [L., as much as he merited] (Law), a count in an action grounded on a promise that the defendant would pay to the plaintiff for his service as much as he should deserve. -- ∥Quantum sufficit (, or Quantum suff. [L., as much suffices] (Med.), a sufficient quantity; -- abbreviated q. s. in pharmacy. -- ∥Quantum valebat ( [L., as much at it was worth] (Law), a count in an action to recover of the defendant, for goods sold, as much as they were worth. Blackstone.

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

quantum, n. (pl. quanta)
1 Physics a a discrete quantity of energy proportional in magnitude to the frequency of radiation it represents. b an analogous discrete amount of any other physical quantity.
2 a a required or allowed amount. b a share or portion.

Idiom

quantum jump (or leap)
1 a sudden large increase or advance.
2 Physics an abrupt transition in an atom or molecule from one quantum state to another. quantum mechanics (or theory) Physics a system or theory using the assumption that energy exists in discrete units.

Etymology

L, neut. of quantus how much

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THESAURUS

quantum

ASA scale, British candle, Hefner candle, Scheiner scale, aggregate, allotment, allowance, amount, amplitude, apportionment, atomerg, big end, bigger half, bit, bite, bougie decimale, budget, bulk, calorie, candle, candle lumen, candle power, candle-foot, candle-hour, candle-meter, chunk, commission, contingent, cut, deal, decimal candle, destiny, dinamode, dividend, dole, dyne, end, energid, equal share, erg, exposure meter, extent, fate, flux, foot-candle, foot-pound, force, half, halver, helping, horsepower-hour, horsepower-year, intensity, interest, international candle, joule, kilogram-meter, kilowatt-hour, lamp-hour, light, light meter, light quantum, lot, lumen, lumen meter, lumen-hour, lumeter, luminous flux, luminous intensity, luminous power, lux, magnitude, mass, matter, measure, measurement, meed, mess, modicum, moiety, numbers, part, percentage, photon, piece, portion, proportion, quantity, quota, rake-off, ration, segment, share, slice, small share, stake, stock, strength, substance, sum, total, unit of flux, unit of light, whole

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ROGET THESAURUS

quantum

Quantity

N quantity, magnitude, size, amplitude, magnitude, mass, amount, sum, quantum, measure, substance, strength, force, mathematics, mathesis, category, general conception, universal predicament, armful, handful, mouthful, spoonful, capful, stock, batch, lot, dose, yaffle, quantitative, some, any, aught, more or less, a few, to the tune of, all of, a full, the sum of, fully, exactly, precisely.

Apportionment

N apportionment, allotment, consignment, assignment, appointment, appropriation, dispensation, distribution, division, deal, repartition, partition, administration, dividend, portion, contingent, share, allotment, fair share, allocation, lot, measure, dose, dole, meed, pittance, quantum, ration, ratio, proportion, quota, modicum, mess, allowance, suerte, apportioning, respective, respectively, each to each.

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